The Annapolis Board of Election Supervisors is considering a move that would relocate a polling place to a community center shared by two of the city's public housing projects.

Republican leaders are against having a polling place at the recreation center between Eastport Terrace and Harbour House because they fear that a "perception of danger" will keep people from voting.

But Alderman Carl O. Snowden, a Ward 5 Democrat, strongly endorsed having the polling place there instead of the Eastport United Methodist Church, which is three blocks away. "Three blocks may not seem far to them, but it will be for the people in the middle of winter," he said.

Mr. Snowden also said a polling precinct for the city's 6th Ward could not be established in a different place just because of fear of crime. "I don't think that would withstand a court challenge," he said.

Heidi Berry, chairwoman of the Republican Central Committee, said several people in the neighborhood told her they would refuse to vote at the Harbour House community center because they are afraid of violence. Both Harbour House and East port Terrace have been plagued by sporadic drug dealing and shootings.

"It amazes me that Carl Snowden finds it imperative to enter Ward 6 when he should care about his own voters," said an irate Alderman Wayne Turner, a Republican who represents the 6th Ward. He said he would fight to have the polling place at the church.

Mr. Snowden, who has hinted at an interest in running for mayor but has not declared his political intentions, wants to register 3,000 new voters and get the black community out to vote in force this year.